United Kingdom and Cambodia join forces to crackdown on online scam centres

The British public will be better protected from online scams as a new agreement is signed between the UK and Cambodian governments.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed on 23 September, will for the first time enable joint working between the UK and Cambodia to tackle networks of illegal scam centres.

Scam centres are places where fraud is scripted and scaled to target thousands of victims at once. They deploy sophisticated tactics to lure victims into handing over cash, including through fake romantic relationships. Many are based out of Southeast Asia which has emerged as one of the world’s biggest hubs for scam centres.

They deploy sophisticated tactics to lure victims into handing over cash, including through fake romantic relationships.

Those conducting the scams are often trafficked foreign nationals, trapped and forced to carry out the fraud under threat of torture.

Under the agreement, the UK and Cambodian authorities will increase data sharing, coordinate activity against the criminal gangs, bring perpetrators to justice and ensure victims of trafficking receive the support they need.

Fraudsters don’t respect international borders. Over two-thirds of fraud affecting the UK originates overseas so agreements like this are vital to reducing the threat to the public here at home.

I’m pleased to have reached this agreement with Cambodia which will strengthen our work to dismantle scam centres and stop these criminals profiting from misery. We will pursue fraudsters wherever they operate from.

The UK will help to build the capacity of Cambodian law enforcement through training in cyber investigations, digital forensics and investigative procedures.

The 2 governments will also work together through the Global Fraud Taskforce, jointly developed by the UK and INTERPOL. This will see them work to identify suspects and support operations to dismantle scam centres, and to trace and disrupt the illicit financial flows that fund them.